Featured blogger - July

Just before the month runs out that I featured Karen we decided to answer a few questions about ourselves.

- What was the best thing that happened to you in your life?

Having my two daughters! They have enriched my life tremendously!

- What is the worst thing that happened to you?

My eldest at age twelve wanted to go and live with her dad. I had to fight for her, although she was not impressed with me! (The very next year she changed her mind completely!)

 

- What is the funniest thing that happened to you?

Friends of my youngest asking at school if I am her grandmother. I can also cry about it! But that is what happens when you are an older mother! I prefer to laugh about it! 

- What is your best me-time activity?

Reading! Anything!

- What music starts playing on your phone when pressing the play button?

Goldfish: He's Crazy

Featured blogger for July

I am delighted that the featured blogger of the month exchange is up and running again. I was even more delighted to get an old blogging friend of my, Karen at Mom again at 40 to feature. We have met in person and have been following each others blogs for years.

She is currently on a wonderful family adventure in the USA so have a look at the very interesting things she are posting at the moment. In general she talks about life as a working mommy with a student and a grade 1 girl child. She always has something worthwhile to read or share.

Featurued blogger of the month

Amongst the mommy bloggers the idea came up to each feature another blogger per month - for support and promotion of each others blogs. This month I have been teamed up with Celeste of Surviving Jonkersville - also a mom of 3 that I have by chance just started reading a short while ago.

We agreed on her suggestion to share a batch of questions as introduction and here are her answers:

What is your favourite time of day?
Celeste: All day

Who is your favourite author?
C: Marian Keyes

Do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?
C: Paperbacks. Nothing compares to the touch and smell of a books (even musty old book smells)


Which TV family is most like your own?
C: My kids say we are like The Russo's in Wizards of Waverly Place. The jury is out on that one because I don't get to watch much TV with remote control wars and all. 

What is something you own or are into that you love, but no one else does?
C: It's a love/hate relationship but it's definitely my Crocs. Not the big ugly ones though but it's still Crocs :(

What is the luckiest thing that happened to you?
C: Winning R5000 in a writing competition a few years ago.

What is the weirdest, grossest or scariest encounter you've had with an insect or household pest?
C: A lizard once ran into the house and I sprayed it with a can of Doom. Still not sure why I reached for the Doom...

If you could earn R2000 by eating the same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner for an entire month, what would it be?
C: Hotcakes

What movie would you watch over and over again and why?
C: The Notebook. It's a love story, need I say more

So now that you know a bit about her, pop over and say hi.

It was really a good weekend.

Flowers for my mom

I had such a great weekend - and I do think the rest of the family had a good one too. I was really spoiled with time for myself this weekend. On Friday night I went to a Stef Bos concert with 5 other ladies and it was such fun. Three of my favorite cousins went with and it was a night of good music and lots of laughter. I always forget how much I enjoy live music and although not one for big venue concerts the smaller scale ones totally fill my soul with joy.

Great eats by Loft restaurant

On Saturday morning I attended the #mombogmeetup and boy, was it a great event. I am not going to go into the details - so many others have already done that but I enjoyed the diverse and great speakers, good food, lovely venue and it was so very well organised by Laura and Heather. I loved putting some faces to the blogs I read and discovering some totally new blogs and the girls behind them. The goodie bags were excellent - I am not going to go into the details but check out the photos:

Thanks to all the wonderful sponsors - who you will find at the link above. I will go into some details about one or two in later posts. I have to mention the lovely creative food Margie made right in front of our eyes. It was fun and very yummy.

I returned home to the boys in the household making bows and arrows. It's the "in thing" in our home right now and as this develops I may give you and insight into it. Suffice to say the rest of the weekend was spent aiming at targets.

On Sunday my mom turned 79 and as she is still not very mobile (knee replacement pending) I went to help early with the many guests that came over. The kids and I made her a secret centre pinata cake which she cut to lots of laughs discovering the inside surprise. It was really tasty - the dark rich cake with the smarties inside. I will definitely make it again.

It was the first weekend in a month that we did not have a lot of grade 4 stuff going - projects, orals, tests etc. Although she does have 3 small tests and a poem to learn for this week we only did about an hour's work for the maths test. It was great having our weekend back!

How was yours?

It's a friendship thing

I have never talked much about friendship here. The honest truth is that Hunter is my BFF and this friendship just grows and grows and still grows. My other two BFF both moved really far away - one to Calgary Canada 8 years ago and the other to Canberra Australia 3 years ago. I miss them both, and I am a lazy email friend. Time differences means that Skype is not such a great option either and neither of them are on iPad or iPhone Face time or enthusiastic Facebookers.In fact, the one is not even on Facebook. And although we keep email contact I miss the day to day things, I miss just having an impromptu coffee date. A quick phone chat - which I did with both of them regularly.

Yes, I am trying to build new IRL friendships - I have one mom at the school whom I have met for lunch a few times and will again - she is wonderful - best friend potential right there. Only problem being I am a bit like someone dating - they are planning to move to Australia next year. I do not want to go through losing another good friend.Our friends that we as a family spend a lot of time with does not really "count" here - they are on the brother and sister level - family , well better than family. Pure gold. But I do count I as a great girlfriend - BFF too, but we seem to always visit with the families.  I do have other not so "heart" friends around that I sometimes meet mainly for lunch, but it's not on that great friendship level. That one that you share so much with. They take time, commitment and a whole lot of understanding to build, mostly over years. I have my cousin /friend A who is possibly the closest to this is have at the moment. And the book club girls and other friends I love to spend time with but we still have to walk that mile together, eat that bag of salt together. It may come.

In the meantime, I have a great pack of friends I made here in the virtual word of my computer and iPad. What I love about bloggers is that we also talk about the things that you do not often get the time and chance with IRL. We support each other through comments, emails, Facebook chats. Some develop into IRL friends with time. We talk about our dreams and our visions - and our word for the year. As part of my word for the year "Embrace" I decided to as a friendship gesture ( Embracing friendships) doodle a few blogging friend's words for the year. I have posted quite a few (some delayed thanks to the post office strike) and some are still in process of being made. If you really want one let me know and I may just send you one. I just made notes of words as I saw them and as you know the first part of my year has been rather hectic, so I may have missed a lot. These doodles are giving me so much joy - I love making them and even more love sending them on and the joy they bring on the other side of th epostal system.I include a little Typo note book for each to write about what their word brings to them this year.  (BTW I only took a photo of each and did not scan them and sent the original to the recipients so they are uniquely your little doodle - a one and only original)So let me share the ones that I know have been received.

Marcia's

Julia's

Lynette's

Shayne's

Tania's

Pamela's

If you were wondering, yes, there is a process and some words "come to me" easier than others. I find very short words or phrases more difficult than single words. Yes, some symbols do have meanings to me but only one is in every single doodle (can you spot which one?) And tell me why I have it? The rest is mostly a process of drawings what the word/person/sketch "feels" like. As to the colours, I try to reflect a bit of what I see in you in those or I may just ask you to pick colours.

Joining Marcia today

My Secret Santa's elf has been very very naughty

And went ahead and got me every single item on my list! It was the most amazing gift to open.

Thanks you so much Fabulous Mommy for the huge spoil and Stiletto mum for organizing it all. Now I wish I can see how the person I played Santa to thought about theirs. I really hope nothing went wrong and she got hers!

With that I am signing off my official work year - it's been long, exhausting but rewarding. I already have heaps of posts in my reader which I may never get to and as my regular readers know by now, blogging over the holidays tend to be rather sparse from my side. But who knows?

A sunny happy day...

...after all the "doom and gloom" yesterday. My Facebook status this morning reads:So another morning, the US has a new (old) president, SABC bans the term Zumaville because it is apparently racist and we have found Leon's glasses after a 13 day frustrating hunt. Somehow finding the glasses is enough to make me a happy person today. I found the glasses last night in my clothes closet - in the second from bottom shelve with seldom used stuff. No idea how it got there but we have found it and I can not be happier! Some other bits also add to my happiness:

• I won tickets to see "The little Mermaid" on Melinda's blog - so looking forward to using them during the December holidays
• I also won a R500 Naartjie gift voucher on the Rattle and Mum blog - love that!
• I managed to book a shoot with the photographer we used the Groupon for last year (and the lovely pics in my blog header and side bars) and guess what? Not only could we find a time but she has a special running! I am so totally happy about it - yes, it will be too late for Christmas cards but we shall just use one of the images we took this Saturday and I will still have my lovely pics for the wall and photobooks. Saturday just did not pan out as planned -the kids were not co operative, the light was not great, everything just did not "gel" - if you know what I mean.

Whats happening

This is one of those rambling type bullets every now and again just filling you in on the everydayness of our lives.

• I have actually managed to read 4 books in September of which 1 is a very thick read. I also read Marcia's book - Marcia, I am inspired. Its been a  very very long time since I have managed more than 3 books a month.
• I am totally addicted to Poetry's "house" fragrance - the one they spray in all their shops. Hence a bottle has found its way into our house and it smells all Poetry now. I also bought a beautiful little typical Poetry white and blue dress which I love.
• I have 6 weeks of work before we close for the December holidays. Wow, where has the time gone to?
• The weekends to come looks crazy up until the end of the school year! Enough said.
• I have not booked a photographer this year. To be honest I was looking out for a Groupon or such but got so busy at work that I never checked. I have asked my awesome cousin/friend A who takes lovely pics to do us a small family shoot on Saturday. Here's hoping for the best.
• The bookclub girls have made a decision to not buy our normal R30 Recession pressies for our Christmas gift exchange but to each make something themselves to exchange. I am making one of my mosaic crosses but was very tempted to do washi stuff - but one of the other girls is doing washi craft stuff.
• I won a gift voucher for R500 from Ackermans yesterday - have you seen their blog? Margot alerted me to it and if you tell them what you think about it you may win a voucher too. Mine is so going to go towards winter clothes for the kids as soon as those are in the shops.
• Last night I had to rush to my mom's place - she felt faint and could not get up from her chair. When I arrived her friends in the retirement village had already helped but I stayed over to make sure she is fine. I got up at 5:15 this morning to be home just after 6 in time for the morning rush. I did not sleep well so I am totally exhausted today
• Me L's glasses went missing somewhere between dinner on Thursday night and breakfast on Friday morning. He and presumably the glasses never went out of the house. We can not find them - I am totally floored by this!Luckily we have his old ones for spares.
• I am making a photobook for the ballet teachers from the Princess and one of her friends. I am enjoying it so much and I can not wait to see their faces. (Unless someone else got the same idea)
• One of the moms in the Princess' class is making a photobook for their teacher and has asked us for photos of activities related in any way to the school. I am amazed at how much the Princess packed into one year. And I can not believe grade 1 is almost over.
• Last Friday the Princess had the unprepared drama Eisteddfod for the year. Unprepared drama is much more difficult than prepared as they get given a story line and a few minutes to come up with a plan and then get on stage. I was once again amazed at the confidence and imagination the girls have. They got an A which is brilliant. Of course, someone wanted and A+ which no one got. Sigh. 

So what's happening in your world?

Secret santa list

 I participated in the Bloggers Secret Santa last year and totally loved the gift I got. Stiletto mom is running it this year and I have signed up. So herewith my little list for whoever will be my good Santa:

• First of all, my current addiction - Washi tape or bakers twine -any will be great - refer to Paper peony for a great choice . I will specifically be very delighted with WT/B58, WT/B37, WT/B33 or WT/B12. For a bit more WT/B16, WT/B23, WT/B22, WT/B36  or WT/B28 will be absolutely fabulous.And any bakers twine. With or without postage you should just hit the mark.
• Anything you made by hand for me - I love hand made stuff
• Crochet flowers on a broach or hairband or the just flowers - love those.
• Funky broaches, earrings, necklaces or beads - I especially love the crochet flower ones. But not bangles. I can not really wear them - sensory issues and all.
• Bath stuff , body butter of cream- totally love anything that smells great - especially Beauty Factory or Sorbet will hit the spot any time.
• Sally Williams nougat - the plain with almonds or the plain coated in chocolate. I am seriously addicted to it. 
• Colourful flip flops - those with flowers or whatever on - Pick n Pay have heaps. I wear a size 7

So are you participating yet? Have your list up yet?

I had a whole post planned for today, but...

...after reading a few posts in my reader over my morning tea, I had a change of plans because the winner of many many very legit blog awards, one of the funniest woman I have ever read, the Reluctant mom gave me an award. Does that mean that by how many degrees of closeness I have touched a small bit of that Mommy blogger of the year award? Ok, just kidding, but I will take my 5 seconds of fame any time. She describes me as the "The how-the-hell-does-she-keep-it-all-together Cat" which makes me think that I am not writing about dropping some of those juggling balls enough. But alas, let's keep you all thinking that I am in fact keeping it together, for now anyways.

So the rules calls to post the logo (and yes, RM yours is a much improved version), and tell you 7 things you don't know. Gosh I have done so many of these, it can be hard, but let's think:

1. I can not stay away from a good stationery shop. I love them. I do not even need to buy anything. Ditto for book shops but I guess you all know that
2. I never write with a black pen, unless I really have to or have no other with me. I prefer my life to be multi coloured - and I remember things better in colour - something I used while studying from my school days. (I can remember in which colour I wrote something)
3. About the only thing I love about winter is boots. I adore boots with tights or leggings and a pinafore style top. The rest of winter can go somewhere else.
4. I secretly convince my daughter that I need to make a page and design in her Top Model books. I would so have loved these as a child. Totally addictive.
5. I am rather useless at decorating my own home. I just can not decide. While I would gladly choose colours for a huge building, choosing one to paint my own lounge is a total issue. Tonight is the night to choose one.
6. If I get behind on blog reading in my reader I often just go "mark all as read" . Sorry girls, but I just have to otherwise it will drive me nuts. I will never get the chance to catch up.
7. I wish Lego will find my blog and get us to review Lego! Yes Lego, are you guys out there? 

Now I have to nominate 5 to 10 bloggers I admire:
I have decided that I will nominate the last 10 people who left comments on my blog as they do fill my love tank by leaving a comment (skipping those that have been nominated by RM herself)

1. The very Sassy dress-up Queen Wendy - one day I want to think about clothes like you do. For now I just get dressed, most days.
2. Mrs Ol at Ordinary life who I admire not only for her OL musing but for being an Iron (wo)man of note.
3. Cheryl at Twinfation - writer and  veteran twin mom. We have been blog buddie from 2007!
4. TJ at Two half pints etc - fellow SPD/SID mom and a more recent find. Love her balanced perspective on everything.
5. Lynette at A work in progress - friend, true follower of Christ, magnificent scrapper, adoring granny. Need I say more.
6. Blackhuff at My daily walk - a girl I admire hugely for her guts and determination.
7. Mandy E at My life as described by Twin trials and Tribulations - fellow twin mom. Writer of delightful fun posts.
8. Karen at Mom again@40 - delightful blogger, super delightful comment leaver. Champion mom of a toddler and a student. That must be tough.
9. Linda at Linda's journal who I have actually met IRL without knowing that we both blog and read each other's blogs. You have to smile at that one
10. 10. The ever charming Louisa of 123 Blog Myself - A friend now IRL and apparently my current future SIL according to little man C who was totally charmed by the Pink terrorist.

And now, just before posting I saw that the charming CoutessCaz whom I have been reading for a short while also nominated me. Thanks girl! I really appreciate.

So in summary, here's what you need to do if I have nominated you:


1. Include the award logo in your post or on your blog
2. Say 7 random things about yourself that the readers don’t know yet
3.  Nominate 5 – 10 other blogs you usually follow
4. Let the nominees know that they are nominated & include their blog-links
5. Link the person who nominated you

It's competition time

Whenever I walk into Big Blue I have this exact feeling:

Little money purses

It is my best bestest shop ever as a lot of my regular readers clearly knows  (11 of you guessed correctly yesterday). Welcome to all the Big Blue Facebook fans too finding this post from their Facebook page.

There are so many reasons why I love Big Blue - firstly I just like their style. I feel at home in it - just a little bit different and creative.The Olka Polka tiered skirt as featured below must be the signature Big Blue item - every girl needs one and a pair of Olka Polka pants - the most comfy and stylish pants ever and yes, that combination does exist.

 I also adore the quality of their clothes - I have a dress that is close to 7 years in age that is still as beautiful as the day I bought it and because the style is unique, has never gone out of fashion either. The shops are beautiful - a true shopping experience.

Their gift range is really funky - much to choose from.

The cookies from the cookie stamp above are truly beautiful and I always get compliments on them.

The choice for men is great too but the essence must be the quirky T shirts they are so well known for.

Being a true handbag fanatic I can tell you Big Blue has the most stunning bags, always. Always something pretty or funny or just different.

I really want one of these

Love this one too

But to me the true experience lies in the helpful and friendly staff . Tshidi and Caroline at my local branch are always ready to help, to suggest another option, to phone and find something for you in your number. My cookie stamp took a lot of phoning around until they found two and within days I collected it from the shop. True excellent service

So today, I am truly delighted to present a little competition to celebrate my 1000th blogpost in conjunction with Big Blue. Up for grabs are :

First prize - a R500,00 gift voucher to spend at your local Big Blue. If you live in the backwoods of South Africa you can choose from their beautiful new website.

Second and third prizes: A lovely shopper bag each worth R290,00  which you can collect at your local Big Blue or alternatively I will arrange to post it to you.

So to enter the following:
1. For your initial one entry : Go to Big Blue's facebook page and "like" it, then visit their website and leave a comment below on my blog stating the exact description of your favorite Big Blue item.I will attempt to do a gallery of choices.
2. For a second entry tweet the phrase: "To win with @BigBlueSA head over to @catjuggles blog: juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-competition-time.html" and leave a comment here stating that you did it. No separate comment, no extra entry.
3. For additional entries do a blogpost about this giveaway and tweet the blogpost including the twitter handles @BigBlueSA and @catjuggles or post a picture on Instagram of your favorite Big Blue outfit or items and tweet the Instagram post including the twitter handles @catjuggles and @BigBlueSA. Once again tell me in a comment that you did it. No separate comment, no extra entry.

Rules:
Competition open to SA residents only
You have to do the initial one entry (item 1 above)  to enter the competition at all
Bloggers that guessed correctly yesterday will have one additional entry into the competition - you still have to do item 1.
The winners will be determined from a random number generated per entry posted. The decision is final.
The winner will be announced here and on the Big Blue Facebook page on the 18th of May. You need to respond on your win with an email to claim your prize.
The competition closes on 12 noon on the 18th of May 2012.

Have fun! And keep reading.
Thanks for each and every reader and each and every comment over the last  999 posts. Here's to 999 more.

This is my 999th post!

Wow, I was a bit surprised when I noticed last week that I am nearing the milestone. I had a lot to say, and a lot to show over the last 4 years and one month. Ever since my very first post on the 3rd pf April 2008 I have gathered friends along the way. At first it was the MOM's all over the world - that special bread of Mothers of Multiples who live motherhood on a larger scale than one child at a time. Slowly I explored other avenues and as the kids grew from 6 month old babies (and a 3 year old Lill Miss) to two busy and independent 4 going on 5 year olds and a 7 year old Princess flying in big school. At some stage I started to reach out to other South African bloggers, other subjects than purely motherhood and discovered a whole new set of friends in the computer, some which I have met along the way and at least two who are very real friends to me. 

Looking back I can see the love, the support and the encouragement in my old posts. I also remember times when I supported other bloggers.

Imge credit

As you can well imagine, the statistics are quite interesting. Always good to look back on these little items as the years go on and the milestones are reached. In short, I have had 60 946 page views on my little blog - these days I get and average of about 40 page views per post, although some run much much higher up to 615 page views for my top post (you can see my 10 most read posts on the right hand side bar). Clearly someone needs to start writing Afrikaans book reviews - I also get a lot of hits (but never a comment) on all my Afrikaans books posted on my book club blog. 

My top 10 referring URL's include the blogs of some of my favorite South African bloggers - Margot (top referring URL), Lynette, Angel and Marcia. Also my oldest blog buddy ever, Debi in the USA sends a lot of traffic over - I have read and commented on her blog for more than a year before I started my own. Google reader is the second most referring URL - that is how I know a lot of you (as I do) use your readers without subscribing to a blog as a follower (but I do have a die hard 129 of those too ).

I am always astounded by which search phrases people find my blog but obviously "juggling" is always there. As is Lego and anything Lego related and Easter and South Africa. My audience has changed over the years from mainly USA to South Africa now being the at the top, followed very closely by the USA , the UK and Australia. Surprisingly enough I have a good amount of Russian readers, or so it seems. from my stats.

But that with all the stats and so. I have often been asked what my favorite posts are and really it is a huge body of work to sift through. Some that come to mind right now are:

• Scenes from a paediatric ward Something every mom should read
• My favorite and not so retailers (part one) I really need to do a part 2 on this one
• The incredible case of the vanishing boobies about body and body image after kids
• My 4 market posts - filled with visual appeal - Biscuit mill market, Pretoria farmers market, Irene village market and the Hazel food market.
• And my right hand bar "The story of us" posts are always good background.

To celebrate my 1000th post on Friday and to say thank you to you, my loyal blogging friends, both old and new, I will be hosting a fabulous giveaway from my very favorite shop ever. I am so excited to be able to do this! (Apologies to my international friends but for South African residents only).

So, for a pre -competition entry, I give you one guess and one guess only in a comment below. I am expecting all the silent readers to de- lurk on this one. If you know me and my blog, you would know the answer. This pre entry close at 6 am Friday morning.

I just wish we could have talked a bit more.

Apart from that, and the tiiiight space at Bambanani our little informal bloggers meet-up on Saturday was great. I loved that I could pick up Blackhuff and could have a chat on our way there and back. Meeting Louisa was great , but I would have loved to talk a bit more to her. I really feel we just did not have enough time. It was also great to see Marcia and D again - and yes, some more talking would have been great. What was great was that the kids were all very happily occupied by the great play space and truly the Princess and Blackhuff's little girl were almost never at the table. They played their little hearts out. My boys briefly stopped by for milkshakes and a very small bite to eat. As always, the tale in pictures:

Love this one - looking at the pictures taken just now.

Marcia , D and the kids. They are seriously cute.

I love this shot of Louisa and Nicola. One can feel the bond there.

Serious playing at the 3 story high climbing structure. I think the two big girls hardly left it

Have to do this soon again ladies!

April is autism awareness month

Today is World Autism Awareness day.

Although I do not have a child with autism, I am aware of some of the difficulties that children and adults with autism and their parents face. Mr L share some characteristics with autistic kids and some days, it's a struggle.All autistic kids and adults also have Sensory Processing Disorder (or known as Sensory Integration Disorder in South Africa) to some extend or another- what our Mr L has and my, does it throw our world around. Although we have made huge progress it is something that might hamper him for life, or at least throw him a challenge to deal with for life. I am extremely positive about his progress and future, but am painfully aware that only dealing with this is just a fraction of what a child with autism deals with. If you want to read more about the relationship between the two, I found this article very helpful.

So today, I want to reach out to those with autism. I want to share two posts in particular of two of my friends in the blog world with autistic sons - Julia and Debi. I believe that by reading their thoughts about their sons will bring the message through much more than just statistics.

Seems like meme time again

 Debi is one of my oldest blogging friends - hers is the second blog I ever really read (the first was Tertia's) as the expecting mom of twins. I see her as way more than a blogging friend - she is a real friend and has been for over 4 years.

She tagged me for this little meme:

The (bendable) rules:
You must post these rules.
Each person must post 11 things about herself on his/her blog. (I am skipping this - as she did and you can too)
Answer the questions the “tagger” listed for you in her post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
You must choose 11 people to tag and link to them in the post.
Go to each blogger’s page and mention that you have tagged
him/her.

 The 11 questions Debi gave us to answer: (and boy can she ask difficult thought provoking questions):

1. Word association. I say “tender”, you say Steak! Ok, you can see I am craving a nice juicy matured rump steak 
2. What is the most important virtue you possess? Difficult one.I would say to multi task. I can seriously muti task and keep my mind about all the different tasks.
3. Favorite song and why? My favorite favorites are all classical pieces, but in popular music - "I can see clearly now" as sung by the Hot house flowers - not the Jimmy Cliff or Johnny Nash versions but this one with it's haunting piano. It just makes me all positive when feeling down. Where even on You Tube the original video seem to be lost so this is more for the music only

4. If you had to choose someone from the Bible that most closely represents you, who would it be? After a lot of thought I think Esther. I think courage and being forced to have courage is what I have been about for the last few years.
5. A quote or inspirational verse that you turn to when times are tough. Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV version here) The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.  We have a beautiful hymn that the kids love to sing from verse 17 to 19 and I sing it in my head when happy, when stressed, when sad.
6. What is your favorite recipe? My playdough recipe  it is truly the best play dough you will ever have and last for ages. A  simple variation on the usual one using gliserine that makes all the difference.. Reminding me I need to make some.
7. Most dramatic childhood memory. The night my dad passed away. And the few days following that.
8. (for a school throw-back question) If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? An Accacia Xanthophlea or Fever tree- part of the African thorn tree family. You see, they have those thorns everywhere that really hurts, but they provide shelter for a lot of small animals like birds, where the thorns prevent snakes from reaching their nests, shade for animals in the hot summer months and gum for the bushbabies and flowers and pods for the birds to eat. Elephant also loves their pods. And it is very very hardy and I love the lush green stem. It's a bit out of the ordinary.
9. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? The twin skin I can not get rid of, no matter how much weight and fat percentage I loose. (Keep in mind I had two babies of 3kg in there at a stage)
10. Coffee? Iced, frozen, hot or not? Any form, I am an addict. But my best is a nice foamy cappuccino.
11. A moment in time that changed your life? Meeting my hubby. Without him, my life would have been totally different.

The 11 questions I want answered:

1. Name the one product in your kitchen you can not function without.
2. If you can change your career decision, what would you like to be (disregard training, money etc- this is a dream job)
3. What is your favorite toy (as in gadget, craft item, etc)
4. What is your favorite book of all times? (or just choose one for now)
5.  If you could give your 16 year old self one bit of advice only, what would it be?
6. Chocolate or vanilla cake? And specifically what type.
7. Meat, fish or chicken?
8. On what would you spend R300 or 40US$ or the equivalent thereof as a spoil for yourself?
9. Which building in the whole wide world do you think is beautiful or have captured your attention?
10. If you could go on a dream holiday right now, no costs spared, to which one destination will you go and who will you take along? (no world tours allowed - one destination)
11. If you were a flower, which one will you be. And why?

So, I decided to tag the last 11 people that left comments on my blog who are:

Kat in Africa , Heather,  I'm so not a blogger (private blog), Blackhuff, Lea White, Fiona, Karen - Mom again@ 40, Alidaonline, Hayley, Shayne (private blog) and Marcia.

Thank you all to your loyal and regular comments.
And if anyone else wants to do this, just do it and tell me you have done so. I would love to go and read it.

Much crazyness

Tomorrow this time, we will be having our annual office lunch, and in all honesty, it can not come soon enough. I am totally exhausted. On all levels, this year has taken it's toll. I have a few admin things to do and the odd request, for the rest I am doing a big tidy out in my office.

I have made a DVD for each child that was in class with the Princess for this year - a bit of (not so random) act of kindness spirit by me for the children and their parents who have contributed to make this year a very special one for our grade R's. I delivered those today. I also gave out teachers gifts to which I added some note books made by me and the Princess using a cupcake punch I took over from Marcia. Boy did we have fun ! I am so going to use this punch and make more of these notebooks (Thanks Marcia for the inspiration). Although the bigger "real" presents hit the spot with all of them, they all loved the handmade notebooks.

I am looking forward to doing some de-cluttering in the house next week, finally getting Christmas cards out (yes, they will be late) and seeing some friends I never get the chance to see during the year.Lucy is still working so she will mainly look after the kiddos. My dear Huberta car will also go in for her service. There wil also be plenty of prep work for the holiday and Christmas.

And the big thing! I still have to complete the photobook for my inlaws' Christmas present and totally make the one for my  mom!

I have also received the most stunning present from  my Secret Santa - thanks and how did you know that my mascara was close on empty? And for sure this is not under a R100! But I feel thoroughly spoiled and although I did not want more note books - that one I do want! It is beautiful!She has stuck plenty of Hello Kitty stickers on the parcel and it is  Joburg post so I do suspect two lovely bloggers in particular that took part in the project. In return, I have posted my gift - it was incredibly difficult for me as I could get no feel of what she will like - so I hope she at least likes what I got. I so do not want to be the one to disappoint.

And now I have 446 items in my Reader - eish, sorry guys - next week.

Dear Secret Santa

I am participating in the Secret Santa project this year, and am really struggling to figure out what to send to the blogger to who I am Secret Santa. So, I have decided to do a little post so that maybe my Secret Santa can get some ideas. So for R100 or less, I would love: (And if the family read here they could also get some Brithday ideas, but alas...)

•  Fenjal bath oil or foam bath - a lovely memory of years gone by. I can recall my gran so well when I smell it.
• Anything to craft with - pretty paper, ribbons whatever.
• Any bath stuff - especially Tranquil body treats stuff.
• A good book - even second hand
• Beads and other prettyness. 
• Cute lace summer scarf that you see at all the Chinese shops- in light pink , light blue or grey
• Colourful flip flops - I wear a size 7. I love colourful flip flops.With stuff on.Especailly those Pick n Pay cheepies with lots of cuteness.

What I really am not crazy about right now:

• Edible stuff - with my cholesterol issues I really have to be careful. If it has less than 5% fat per 100g I guess it's ok - go try, very little is.
• Bangles - I can not really wear bangles - they irritate me when I work.
• Although I am crazy about note books I have about 4 unused ones lying in my bedside table.

So hope that helps?

I have also received this lovely award by many bloggers - the only ones I can remember in my fogged slightly sleep deprived mind today are To love Bella and Dear Max, .My sincere apologies if I forget to mention you here, I have really not kept track with this - crazy time of the year.












So I have to tell you 7 random things about myself:

1.  I can not eat cooked oats - jip, I have huge tactile issues (I guess L's issues should not have been a surprise to me). When I get home I have to take all jewelery off and tie my hair up otherwise I just can not function
2. I really do not like noise and very loud music. I love soft music, preferably classical or jazz. Sometimes the noise levels in the house totally drives me over board.
3. If I could sing better I would love to sing the role of Carmen in the opera by Bizet. I would love to passionately sing the Habanera in a black and red Spanish dress.
4. I can not put nail polish on my own nails - I really just can not. I do not have the time for "proper nails" so I just do not "do" nails.
5. I also can not do my own eyebrows - I leave that to my much beloved beautician friend.
6. I really want a second island honeymoon with my love. 
7. I am totally addicted to humus, taramosalata and tahina with biscuits I am allowed to eat. And pasta - I can live from pasta. I think somewhere in my precious lives I was both Greek and Italian

Now this one has really done the rounds and I am sure almost all of you have received it - so I would like to award this to everyone that reads this post. Go ahead dear - take it and thanks for your kind comments. As the Golden Girl song goes: "Thanks for being a friend".

In other parts ot the world, today is Thanksgiving.

 Image credit

And although it is not observed here and we have none of the history attached, I love the idea of a day to say thanks, To be thankful. We had a particularly harsh year this year - lots and lots of thing and stress to absorb, and therefore, making a list as to what I am thankful for, is even more meaningful. For us, it is also at the end of the year - both calender and school wise.

1. My wonderful, dear super supportive husband without who I can not imagine my life as it is.
2. My beautiful Princess who is kind, understanding and such a good girl for her age. For her huge need to be recognized.
3. My little man C who has blossomed this year in school and is just doing so well. For his huge need to be loved.
4. My little man L who has really developed totally beyond all expectations and comprehension this year. For his huge need to be understood.
5. For Lucy being healthy again - her health issues has been a huge strain on us all, even more on herself I suspect.
6. For my mom, who has helped where she can with the practicalities in our lives.
7. For my MIL and FIL for their unconditional understanding and support.
8. For our ever so patient, ever so understanding and ever so loving puppies. You girls rock.
9. For the wonderful and understanding teachers, OT and Play therapist that my kids were blessed with this year.
10. For our house, despite possibly being too small, still the place where I feel home and loved most.
11. For the business that has survived the toughest year since I am an owner. It's been a leaner year, but it still provides for us and the others that work for us.
12. For hubby's work - although stressful , a good job never the less.
13. For our cars, that despite not being the newest, still runs smooth and takes us where we want to be.
14. For you, my blogging friends, who in the midst of a year of friendship turmoil have shown me fantastic support and love.You know who you are.
15. And for my Father above without whom I would not have survived this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all - wherever you are.

All about books today

So a short while ago Robyn got a book swop going on her Bookclub blog and I joined in without thinking twice - as most of you know I am one of life's perpetual readers - have been since I was 5 years old and will be until I can see no more. There is very little better than a good book.

What she asked of us is to send someone our favorite novel of all time. Wow, such a difficult decision for me as I love so many. I have had a list in the back of a note book for years - I add to it, I take away, but I have not ordered it in numbers for years. And I did find it daunting to do - in fact, I have settled on a top 10 (in no specific order) and then a top 10 to 20 etc. Down to 40 - I have some that I have fallen out out the top 40 as I have added new books. I use the following criteria to build my list: 1. I have to immediately think that I need this on my top list, 2. I possibly gave it a 10/10 when reviewing it in my book journal, 3. I want to read it again or have read it several times and 4. I must remember the name and author's name - that way I know it stuck well enough to recommend to someone else.So I decided to send her my top love story ever -" Love in the time of cholera"(see below).

In return, Shayne sent me " Five quarters of the Orange" by Joanne Harris, a book that I actually have a history with - I have read many of her books (loved "Chocolat and "Coastliners" best)  but somehow gave up on this book and had to give it back to someone I borrowed it from - so I never finished it. So now, I will attempt it again but only after I finish "7 Dae" the new Deon Meyer released today and delivered to me by the friendly Kalahari folk this morning. I took my lunch time, had a coffee and read the first 65 pages. But back to my top 10 books.


Although through the years I have taken care of reading the prize winners as well as most of the classics (yes, I have read the whole of War and Peace), I must stress that this is a very very personal top 10. Those that spoke to me, those that moved me and those that I love to read time and time again.


 So, my top 10 books of all time (in alphabetical order):
Atonement - Ian McEwan


Ian McEwan is the master observer of the human emotions and dealing with it. This is just such a masterfully told story of a young girl's world going wrong and influencing so many around her. Stunning read - have read it 3 times already and have never seen the movie - I have to admit that I am scared the movie will take some of the magic away

Lord of the Rings Trilogy - JRR Tolkien
Such a  classic - the very very best fantasy ever written. Have read the whole trilogy twice, and some a third time.For once, the movies did well with the books. And do read The Hobbit before you tackle these.



 
Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez 
 
The best love story ever written - spanning over more than 50 years. I can just imagine the two on the boat at the end of it. I have read it at least 4 times and want to read it again. Never saw the movie but apparently it is crap. So just don't - read the book! It will make you believe in love forever.



Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie 
 
A wonderful story of the birth and the life of a man and two nations - colorfully woven with the magic of India.  Not exactly sure of how many times I have read it (I do not always make the note in my book), but I bought my own copy after having borrowed one as a student.


One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Yes, I know, two books by one writer (which must make him my favorite although I am not so sure about his newer books - he was the Nobel literature prize winner in 1982). The magical family saga that introduced magical realism to the world. Stunning - but remember to refer to the list of characters - after 4 reads I still sometimes get confused between all the Aurelios.


 People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks 

A more recent first read -The magical story of a little Jewish prayer book and how it came to be saved through many wars by many people of other religions. Read my full review on my Bookclub blog




The Book Thief - Markus Zusaf
I have only read it this year for the first time, but a magical magical book and story. In general I avoid World War 2 stories but this one is wonderful and imaginative and so uplifting. Do read it.



The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende
Stunning family saga over many generations taking place in Chile and to the background of the never ending South American wars and civil wars. I love how she portrays woman and the relationships between them. I have read it 4 times and the movie is ok - great actors, but totally ignores one of the generations.


The Songlines - Bruce Chatwin

Without a doubt the most unusual choice in the list and a very personal one - I am quite sure you will not find it on many "Top 100 books" lists. But to me, something that speaks to me about man, and our restless nature. I have read it many times, lost my original copy when I loaned it to someone and had to re-order one. I only know one other person who have ever read it - Dana Snyman, the travel writer, and he says it is one of his favorites too. 
Wuthering Heights -Emily Bronte

The only real classic on the list - there has to be one and currently this is my top one ( some of the others are Modern Classics thought). I love the story of Heathcliff and Catherine and the incredible moody atmosphere that permeates the whole book. One to be read over and over again. During dark and light moods.



So please tell me - who is your favorite writer and which are your top books (be it 1, 3 or 10) . And have your read any of my top 10 and what is your opinion of it?